Demonstration of a desk-top size high repetition rate soft x-ray laser

We have demonstrated a new type of high repetition rate 46.9 nm capillary discharge laser that fits on top of a small desk and that it does not require a Marx generator for its excitation. The relatively low voltage required for its operation allows a reduction of nearly one order of magnitude in the size of the pulsed power unit relative to previous capillary discharge lasers. Laser pulses with an energy of similar to 13 mu J are generated at repetition rates up to 12 Hz. About ( 2- 3) x 10(4) laser shots can be generated with a single capillary. This new type of portable laser is an easily accessible source of intense short wavelength laser light for applications. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.